Boxing champ proud to represent Israel

On Saturday night (June 5), Israel’s first major boxing champion Yuri Foreman will defend his super welterweight title when he fights Puerto Rico’s Miguel Cotto in the first bout to be held at New York’s Yankee Stadium in 34 years.

According to press reports, Foreman, who is also a rabbinical student, seemed relaxed and confident at a press conference, where he had little to say, other than “lock and load.”

While the undefeated, Belarus-born Foreman (28-0, 8 KO’s) barely spoke, trainers from both camps heaped praise on the 29-year-old fighter. Cotto’s trainer Emmanuel Steward called Foreman, “a fantastic fighter with great balance.” Foreman’s own trainer Joe Grier called him a “tremendously hard worker” and a “disciplined individual.”

Since Foreman is Sabbath observant and unable to travel by car until sundown on Saturday night, he will leave his hotel room at 9:15 p.m. and travel to the stadium with a police escort. “It’ll be a bit different. Usually I would get to the locker room a little earlier and have more time to prepare, but it will be fine,” he says.

Foreman said of the fight, “It is important for the Jewish people and for Israel. Right now is a tough time. Stuff happens and you have to stay strong. You gotta represent.”

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